Story & Song Neighborhood Bookstore Bistro/Center for Arts & Culture

Join us for a delightful afternoon tea with captivating readings by actor Ron Kurtz on the FIRST FRIDAY of every month! Indulge in a scrumptious selection of sweet and savory treats crafted by the Story & Song bistro, perfectly paired with enchanting stories.

Join us at the store for a magical StoryTime with Ms. Dearsha, our beloved and very talented Director of Children’s Merchandise and Programming! StoryTime is every Saturday at 10:30 am in the store. No RSVP needed. Just come on in! Dive into fantastical worlds, meet dynamic characters, and let your imagination soar! We can't wait to see you!

Celebrate the season with The Jazz Spirit Of Christmas Show featuring the Dynamic Les DeMerle Jazz Quartet with Bonnie Eisele-Vocals, Doug Matthews-Keyboards, Ajax McDonell-Sax and Clarinet and Special Guests. Groove with Les and the band as they perform Christmas classics including “Winter Wonderland”, “Let It Snow”, Bonnie’s sexy version of “Santa Baby”, and a funky N’awlins original, “Santa Claus Is Near”, with Les’ Second Line drumming and more from their acclaimed recording, “The Jazz Spirit Of Christmas”, on Origin Records. Special guests will include one of Les’s young drum student prodigies playing “The Little Drummer Boy”. Tickets are available online or by calling (904) 601-2118

Join other guitar players in an acoustic guitar jam. If you’re a beginner or an experienced musician, bring your acoustic guitar and some songs that you want to play and join other guitar players in a relaxed setting on the patio courtyard. Songs of the 50s, 60s and 70s and all genres. If you don’t want to join in – come listen. You might be prompted to join in at another time.

Find a stunning selection of all kinds of beaded jewelry hand-made by Front Porch Beaders. A portion of proceeds will benefit a Jacksonville-based food distribution organization.

Luncheon with Author Linda Ford Ayres Psychotherapist Linda Ford Ayres was both victim and confidant of a severely emotionally disturbed mother. Rarely do we have the opportunity to experience mental illness from both points of view. Her incredible empathy combined with her rare capacity to contain a storm of conflicting emotions raging within her, leave the reader in both shock and awe. Monster & The Daughter Who Loved Her opens with an incident that cannot help but leave one speechless. Using alternating chapters of her own voice and that of her mother’s, Ayres’ fascinating trial-and-error life keeps the reader on the edge of her seat until the surprise ending where forgiveness, like love, arrives unexpectedly. Lunch Menu: Thankful Salad with Turkey or without Turkey (Vegetarian): Mixed Greens, Quinoa, Pecans, Pear, Red Grapes, Dried Cranberries, & Pomegranate Arils, Mini-Croissants, Cranberry Crumble Pie Bar About the book: Tom Ford, well-known and beloved scenic artist, father to Ayres and her younger sister, and husband to his stunning, kooky, sadistic wife, lived in a blissful state of denial as he rolled through his charmed life; until, at age eighty-seven, still working on the sets for Beauty and the Beast, he was beaten over the head and left for dead two blocks from his home in a neighborhood that had never seen a violent crime. This is only one of the unsolved mysteries in this riveting, harrowing, yet ultimately, inspirational tale.

Join us at the store for a magical StoryTime with Ms. Dearsha, our beloved and very talented Director of Children’s Merchandise and Programming! StoryTime is every Saturday at 10:30 am in the store. No RSVP needed. Just come on in! Dive into fantastical worlds, meet dynamic characters, and let your imagination soar! We can't wait to see you!

The holiday season is here! Join us for our second annual gift-making and wrapping workshop. There may even be a silly song or sing-a-long too! Plus a sweet treat and goody bag to take home. Age 5-12 • Class size limited to 12. RSVP required. Reserve your seat via the link. Sponsored by The Story & Song Foundation

This two-time MCMA Roots Duo/Group of the Year from the prairie wonderland of Manitoba is known for their original music, spot-on harmonies, and funny stories that inspired their music. $25 per person • Cash bar available

Take a break by the sea with singer/songwriter Bill Ivins as he brings his signature “acoustic flashback” to our courtyard! Enjoy an afternoon of feel-good favorites and original tunes that transport you through time. Grab a delicious lunch from our bistro, find a sunny seat, and let the music carry you away. It’s casual, it’s coastal, and it’s all happening right here. Come tap your toes, sing along, and soak up the sounds of Songs by the Sea!